Ayuvedic Treatment for Pin Worms focuses on fixing the reason of the environment enabling the growth of the parasites in the body. In everyday life, people encounter a number of smaller creatures may it be a germ or a parasite. Man’s life on earth is greatly influenced by the surrounding system including these organisms. Some of them live inside us in a friendly way but some of them cause potential harm to us, in the form of diseases. Pinworms are tiny, narrow worms white in colour and less than 2cm long. They are small parasites that live in the colon and rectum. Usually, people get affected when they swallow the worm eggs which hatch inside the human intestine. Female worms travel out of the infected person’s anus to lay eggs, mostly at night, causing severe itching on the area. Along with symptoms in digestive system, pin worms can cause chronic anaemia and other disorders. Strict personal hygiene measures are needed along with medications for a complete cure.
Signs & symptoms
Itching around the anus, especially at night
Difficulty to fall asleep or disturbed sleep
Irritability
Teeth grinding
Restlessness
Occasional stomach pain, nausea & vomiting
In girls, itching in the vaginal area and rarely vaginal discharge
Causes
Inadequate hygiene is the cause of pinworm infestation. Eggs are transferred from the anus of an infected person to either their own mouth, re-infecting themselves, or another surface. If other persons touch that contaminated surface and then touch their mouth, they can become infected by ingesting the eggs.
Pathophysiology
The primary symptoms of pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis) infection include pruritus or a prickling sensation in the perianal area, which is produced when a gravid female pinworm migrates to the anal area and inserts her pin shaped tail into the mucosa for depositing ova, usually at night time. E vermicularis is seen in the small intestines, mainly the ileocecal region.
The movement of the female and the ova cause intense local itching. Ova may survive for up to 3 weeks before hatching. The hatched larvae can then migrate back into the anus and lower intestine, causing retro infection. Embryonated eggs may be released into the anus, air or onto fomites (e.g., bedding, clothing, toys, paper) or onto hands and then placed directly into the mouth and ingested (autoinfection), after which they settle in the small intestines.
Pinworms that inhabit the caecum and adjacent areas typically cause no symptoms. Diarrhoea due to inflammation of the bowel wall can occur during acute infection.
Risk factors for pinworms include living with a person who is egg-positive, not washing hands before eating, and poor personal or group hygiene.
Diagnosis
Identification of the worm or its eggs. Worms can sometimes be seen on the skin near the anus or on underwear or sheets about 2 to 3 hours after falling asleep. Pinworm eggs can be collected and examined using the “tape test” as soon as the person wakes up.
Treatments
Medications like mebendazole, pyrantel pamoate, or albendazole.
Prognosis
Pinworm infestation is not usually fatal; death and morbidity happen from secondary infection.
Complications
Complications are rare but they may include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Weight loss
- Infection of part of the abdomen (peritoneal cavity)
Disease & Ayurveda
Krimi
Nidana
Causative factors for krimi are the same as that of Kushtha.
Sparsa
Aahaara together – By touch and sharing food, bed etc.
Sayya
Amrijothbhava – Due to lack of proper personal hygiene
Purvaaroopa
Not mentioned separately
Samprapti
Due to contact with krimi (microbes or parasites) and due to lack of proper hygiene, the microbes enter the body through the mouth and travel through the intestines. They enter the pakwaasaya, guda, and produce the disease.
Lakshana
Vidbheda – Loose stools
Soola – Abdominal pain
Vishtambha – Distension of abdomen
Kaarsya – Emaciation/loss of weight
Paarushya – Roughness of body
Paanduta – Anaemia/ Pallor
Romaharsha – Horripilation
Agnisadana – Loss of appetite
Gudakandu – Itching of anus
Gudavinirgama – Rectal prolapse
Divisions
- Bahyam-external
- Aabhyantaram-internal
- Bahirmalaja-from external impurities
- Kaphaja-from kapha
- Rakthaja-from rakta
- Pureeshaja-from faecal matter
Prognosis
Kricchrasadhyam
Chikithsa
The Ayurvedic treatment of Krimi depends upon the type.
Here, the infestation is internal and it is aabhyantarakrimi but it can be seen outside the anus also. The main procedure is to physically remove the krimi from skin (if visible) and cleaning the Gastro-intestinal tract removing the krimis completely. Main Ayurvedic treatment for the disease pin worms include purificatory therapies called vamana(therapeutic emesis with medicated herbal drinks) and virechana(therapeutic purgation with herbal medicines administered orally). After cleaning the GIT with these procedures and vasti(medicated enemas) , diet & hygienic lifestyle to prevent worm infestation should be followed.
Samana
Apakarshana – extraction with hand or tool
Uthkharshana-powder massage
Lepana-external application of herbal pastes to reduce itching etc.
Parisheka-Pouring medicated herbal decoctions on the area
Sodhana
Vamana
Virechana
Aasthapanavasti
And after the krimi has expelled from the body, anuvasanavasti should be done to compensate the dryness and deterioration caused by aasthapanavasti.
Commonly used medicines
Vidangakrishnadi kashayam
Vidangasavam
Abhayarishtam
Avipattichoornam
Krimisodhinivatika
Ashta Churna
Brands available
AVS Kottakal
Vaidyaratnam oushadhasala
SNA oushadhasala
Home remedies
Pinworm eggs can cling to surfaces, including toys, faucets, bedding and toilet seats, for two weeks. So besides regular cleaning of surfaces, methods to help prevent the spread of pinworm eggs or to prevent reinfection include:
- Because pinworms lay their eggs at night, washing the anal area in the morning can help reduce the number of pinworm eggs. Showering may help avoid possible re-contamination in bath water.
- Change underwear and bedding daily
- Wash bedsheets, pajamas, underwear, washcloths and towels in hot water to help kill pinworm eggs. Dry on high heat.
- Avoid scratching the anal area. Trim the fingernails so there’s less space for eggs to collect. Avoid biting nails.
- Wash hands well after using the toilet or changing a diaper and before eating.
Diet
- To be avoided
Red meat, fried non-veg items, and sea foods
Jaggery, sugar, sweet food items, Milk and milk products that cause obstruction in channels and a favourable condition for worms
Heavy meals and difficult-to-digest foods – cause indigestion.
Junk foods and spicy food- cause disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine
Carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion
Refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening agni (digestive fire)
Curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases
- To be added
Light meals and easily digestible foods
Raw papaya, pineapple etc.
Green gram, soups with black pepper, turmeric, ginger and curry leaves
Freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain etc
Behaviour:
Maintain proper personal hygiene.
Avoid sedentary lifestyle. Be active.
Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight wind rain or dust.
Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.
Avoid forcing or holding of natural urges like urine, faeces, vomiting, hiccups etc.
Avoid Stress and emotional imbalance as much as possible.
Yoga
Following a routine with regular exercises and specific yoga asanas like Ardhamathsyentra asanam, Halasanam, Vakrasanam, Dhanurasanam etc is recommended.
Regular exercise helps improve bioavailability of the medicine and food ingested and leads to positive health.
Yoga can maintain harmony within and with surroundings.
Ardha mathsyentra asanam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51EqCa6ZGCw
Halasanam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6RdNJzDGxA
Vakrasanam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fi85Dqdo1M
Dhanurasanam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adqNfP_NaGo
All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.
Research articles
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6522669/
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, United States. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult your GP before the intake. Ayurveda Supplement with GMP Certification from India.
Writer:
Dr. Rajesh Nair, the co-founder and chief consultant of Ayurvedaforall.Com, is a graduate of prestigious Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College (affiliated with the University of Calicut), Kerala, India. Additionally, he holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy from Annamalai University.
Dr. Nair offers consultation at two busy clinics in and around Haripad, Alleppey, Kerala, the southern state famous worldwide for authentic ayurvedic treatment and physicians. While offering consultation on all aspects of ayurvedic treatments Dr. Nair has a special interest in Panchkarma, Yoga, and Massage.
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